Should I Sell Out to the Corporate Devil or Follow my Bleeding Heart Tendencies

[lavender]

 

[RawHumor]

Could you work for the big boys until you've gotten yourself some savings and a professional reputation and then go into something smaller or start your own firm or whatever?

 

[Dragon Dreamer]

I agree with RawHumor.... why not work for the big money now, pay down the debts, develop a rep, then strike out on your own?

 

[brokenbrainwave]

sometimes we must swallow bitter medicine for the chance of a great future. I made damn good money running resturants, but I hated it with such a passion it made me hate myself. However, because I took my med's for a few years and built up a nestegg, I can now do what I want, spend time with my two little boys. Good luck, hellacious decision you have to make. Either choice will not be wrong.

 

[TygerEyez]

Took the words right out of my mouth, RH.

If it were me, Lav, I'd stay where you are, just until you get those pesky loans paid off. I know it's a pain in the ass (I'm in a similiar situation), but the last thing you need is to go and try to start a new firm, and have those debts hanging over your head.

It'll suck now, but in the long run, it might be better for you.

 

[sunstruck]

Could you work for the big boys until you've gotten yourself some savings and a professional reputation and then go into something smaller or start your own firm or whatever?

This sounds wise to me. Consider it paying the piper.

I have a friend going into his third year of law school who has decided to go for an MBA when he's done because he has lost interestin in law.

Do you still want to be a lawyer?

 

[lavender]

 

[Dragon Dreamer]

What about just staying there until you have paid down some of your loans and feel more secure financially?

 

[UrbanRiot]

sometimes we must swallow bitter medicine for the chance of a great future. I made damn good money running resturants, but I hated it with such a passion it made me hate myself. However, because I took my med's for a few years and built up a nestegg, I can now do what I want, spend time with my two little boys. Good luck, hellacious decision you have to make. Either choice will not be wrong.

could not have said it better!

 

[Purple Haze]

If you can work within their system without getting trapped in the benefits packages, go ahead and take their money for a while. I know it sucks, I have clients I don't care for, clients with big teats. I also have hungry little Purples too.

Keep your eye on the backdoor.

 

[RawHumor]

Keep your eye on the backdoor.

Why does everything have to do with ass-fucking with you?

 

[Purple Haze]

What else is there?

 

[patient1]

I know you'll do what as you please anyway.

Why not appease your bleeding heart 1st & sell out after you've become jaded & cynical?

It may not take as long as you think. Living our dreams isn't often the ideal we'd imagined.

 

[medjay]

I say life is too short to hang around at a place you don't like. If the job is soul-sucking and you know you'd rather be doing something else it's best to start doing it before you get complacent.

You might not be ready financially but there are plenty of people who live happy, fulfilling lives on meager incomes. Think about what's important to you and what kind of expenses you can cut down on for the sake of your piece of mind.

 

[TygerEyez]

RH, I think Purple Haze might have meant "backdoor" as an escape route.

Why is it your mind is always in the gutter?

Anyway, Lav, I agree with Purple Haze. Although I don't know anything about legal skills or anything like that, I'm sure it is quite different.

Can I ask a question? Does part of your problem involve your ideals? Are you leaning toward leaving the big-wigs because you'd rather help the little people? Or is it strictly financial and professional?

*hopes that came out the right way*

 

[YogiBare]

I have two ideas, Lavy.

What about going to work for the Civil Rights Division of the US Dep't. of Justice, or trying to get hired at a large law firm that does a lot of pro bono work in that area of law?

 

[UrbanRiot]

If you can pay off your school loans with the other job maybe you should do it unless, your trying to support a family or something that is. People might think other wise but money can’t buy you happiness less your one of those people that well it does. It certainly doesn’t sound as if the extra income is making you happy, but as others have pointed out it will pay off those loan. More importantly it’s experience, And experience will pave the way to bigger and better things exception, Godzilla movies some people never learn.

 

[sexy-girl]

Ok, that sounds all well and good. Let me explain why even though in theory it's excellent in practice it sucks.

First, working for the big boys, I'm doing transactional work. Ya know, mergers, acquisitions, initial public offerings, financial shit. What I want to do with the "little people" is more along the lines of civil rights litigation. Additionally, you don't really develop a "name" so quickly in the field of law. It takes a lot of time, patience, effort. Then I'd want to transfer from complete transactional, to litigation? Nu-uh. Doesn't really work that way.

So, then assume I do litigation with a big boy firm. I'll be doing things like commercial litigation, where I will be examining breaches of contract law and the business and commerce codes. This doesn't transfer very well to bleeding heart work either.

The two are completely different. Developing skills in one area is not the same, at all, as the skills you develop in the other.

with dealing with the bleeding heart cases do you really need such a great name or experience ... i mean if you are able to go for the bleeding heart cases now ... then surely you still will beable to a few years down the line ... after you've had a "selling out" period to pay off your loans ... i know there is more money in the corporate lawyer side of things but i can understand why you are not sure you wish to do that forever

 

[activesense]

I'm in a similar situation...

Except I don't really have the major bucks opportunity you have in law - althoughI could go be a developer with my planning degree. I just finished 2 masters degree (planning and social work) and have $40,000 in loans. Right now I'm making $15/hour (contract work) as a policy analyst for a nonprofit economic and social justice advocacy group. I love the work and the folks (we share office space with legal services) - many of whom are lawyers.

I am struggling to find permenant full-time work and face maybe having to take something less than fullfilling (for more money) in order to pay off loans and have benefits.

My thoughts are that life is too short to do something you don't like if youhave the ability to avoid it. There are lots of options for folks with law degrees to work in the nonprofit world that don't pay badly. For example a large nonprofit credit union just got a huge donation from a retired banker to open a center on predatory lending. They are hiring a bunch of lawyers to handle litigation and legislation writing. It is going to be national, so there will be work all over the country. If you are interested, PM me and I'll send you the contact info - I've met with the folks heading up the project.

Good luck with your decision. I've got several friends who bailed out of the major law firms because they were miserable, I know it is a tough (and scary) decision.

peace,

activesense

 

[lavender]

 

[glamorilla]

RH has the right idea.

If you don't mind my saying you'll be able to do much more good down the road free and clear of loan and debt and with some bank on your side.

Work from within,develop the kind of contacts and sources you need to get ahead,establish yourself as a force to be reckoned with and then do it.

 

[RawHumor]

My problems are solved.

I'm going to apply for the position of General Counsel for the Christian Coalition.

Think they'll hire me?

Hehe. I tickled myself with that thought.

You'll have to keep your eye-rolling in check.

Can you post a pic of you tickling yourself?

 

[Rubyfruit]

Why not do civil litigation? You're still helping people and you can make the big bucks. Would be good training ground for civil rights litigation in the future, as well.

 

[Mischka]

You need to dig into the resumes of the type of people that do the work you want to do, and see how they got there. You know you're not meant to be a corporate whore like me.

P.S. What the hell are you doing posting in the middle of the day? I thought you were at a deposition.

 

[Marxist]

You should become the next Thurgood Marshall. Make me proud, but don't grow the 'stache.